With so many skincare guides and products out there (oils, serums, eye creams, moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, toners — you get the idea), knowing how to care for your skin and what order to apply skincare can sometimes feel like one big mystery. Is there any rhyme or reason to your skincare routine order? Yes, in fact, there is! We’re here to break it down and help you get the most out of your facial skincare routine.
We’ll cover:
- Why does the order of skincare products matter?
- The best skincare routine order to get the most out of your products
- What order to apply skincare in the morning vs. night
- How to modify your skincare routine based on your skin type
Why does the order of skincare products matter?
Your skincare routine is all about the art of layering (just like your wardrobe). Each product and step in your routine has a unique purpose, formula, and consistency. Applying products in the proper order can help you achieve your most radiant, glowy, and healthy skin, no matter what life throws at you.
At what age should you start a skincare routine?
It’s never too early (or late!) to start a skincare routine. For teens and young adults, a gentle routine with cleanser and moisturizer is a good place to start, keeping your skin fresh and healthy. As you age, your skin changes with you — to keep up with it, you can introduce products like oils, eye creams, and serums to address specific issues over time.
The benefits of maintaining a consistent facial skincare routine long-term include:
- Prevents skin issues like dryness and acne
- Slows signs of aging like fine lines, dark spots, and wrinkles
- Maintains skin hydration and elasticity
- Improves skin texture
- Boosts self-confidence and helps you glow from the inside out!
Related: The Ideal Skincare Routine by Age
The best skincare routine order to get the most out of every product
With that covered, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty: what’s the best skincare routine order? Our expert Cerologists (wax technicians) recommend applying your products in this order:
- Makeup remover
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serums
- Moisturizer
- Retinols
- Facial oils
- Sunscreen
Now, let’s take a deeper look at each step — and how to reveal your freshest, healthiest skin yet.
Step 1. Makeup remover
The most effective skincare routine starts with a clean face. Use a gentle makeup remover like micellar water or coconut oil to remove any makeup products from your face before moving on to the other steps in your routine. (This step is also critical to preventing acne!)
Step 2. Cleanser
A gentle cleanser can take your face from fresh to flawless, laying the foundation for a clean application of every other product in your routine. Cleansers are designed to remove dirt, oil, and other impurities (like any pesky, lingering makeup) from your face. Plus, regular cleansing can help prevent acne. Oil-based and water-based cleansers are the two most popular types. Here’s how to choose between the two:
- Oil-based cleanser: Best for sensitive or dry skin, oil-based cleansers help your skin retain its natural oils and moisture. We recommend staying away from oil-based cleansers if you’re prone to breakouts and acne.
- Water-based cleanser: Oily skin will respond better to a water-based cleanser, like ones that lather or foam when applied. These cleansers act as a surfactant, meaning they reduce surface tension to wick away dirt and impurities. Those with sensitive skin should consider avoiding water-based cleansers or introduce them slowly into their routine.
Step 3. Toner
After cleansing, it’s important to restore your skin’s balance. Enter: toner. This miracle product is a must-have in any routine because it restores your skin’s pH balance after cleansing your face. This boosts hydration and helps subsequent products in your routine absorb better.
Toner is also beneficial if you have acne-prone skin because it keeps bacteria and excess oil at bay.
Step 4. Serums
After toner comes serums. Loaded with nutrients, serums provide your skin with the vitamins, acids, and hydration it needs. Thanks to the high concentration of active ingredients, serums are heavyweights when it comes to skincare benefits, including:
- More even skin texture
- Boosted elasticity
- Improved overall appearance (hello, dewy glow!)
Serums also provide your skin with an additional layer of protection against the elements. For example: vitamin C serums brighten your skin, reduce redness, and fight free radicals and pollutants along with damage from the sun. Serums with vitamin E can help reduce inflammation and improve skin tone.
Step 5. Moisturizer
Repeat after us: “I will never skip moisturizer.” Moisturizer sits on top of your toners and serums, locking in the ingredients to give you optimal results. Think of moisturizer as a protective shield that not only hydrates your skin but also protects against free radicals and air pollution. Lather up daily!
Step 6. Retinols or plant-based retinol alternatives
Retinols (and alternatives like bakuchiol) are your anti-aging magic wand, helping to:
- Reduce fine lines
- Prevent wrinkles
- Reveal smoother, more youthful skin
Retinols can make your skin extra sensitive, so some dermatologists recommend moisturizing before and after applying retinol to soothe your skin and maintain a healthy moisture barrier. The good news: you can get all the same benefits of retinol without the harsh side effects by using bakuchiol.
Step 7. Facial oils
Facial oils like jojoba and rosehip seed oil are best suited for the end of your skincare routine because they seal in the products you’ve applied and keep ingredients from evaporating, making them more effective and longer lasting.
Step 8. Sun protection
While our Cerologists encourage using a moisturizer that contains SPF, relying on your moisturizer alone for sun protection won’t cut it if you want to achieve your healthiest skin. A lightweight, broad-spectrum sunscreen at the end of your skincare routine provides the ultimate level of protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Apply sunscreen at the end of your routine, even on cloudy days — and all through winter!
Morning skincare routine vs. nighttime skincare routine
Your skin has different needs at different times of the day (just like you!). While the ideal order of skincare products is generally the same, there are a few variations between the products in your morning and nighttime skincare routines.
Morning skincare steps
Some mornings, you may have extra inflammation or oil built up on your skin after a good night’s rest. Apply your morning skincare routine in this order for glowing skin all day long:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serums (e.g., vitamin C to wake up and brighten your skin or hyaluronic acid serum to boost elasticity)
- Eye cream to de-puff and reduce dark circles
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
Evening skincare steps
Each night, your skincare routine is a chance to wash away the day and give your face the love it deserves. Here’s our recommended order of products:
- Makeup remover
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serums (e.g., niacinamide for skin repair or peptides for anti-aging) and eye creams
- Moisturizer
- Retinol
- Oil
Modifying your skincare routine by skin type
Wondering how to modify your routine if you have specific skin health concerns? We’ve got you covered, there, too. Let’s talk about helpful products to apply to your routine for each skin type.
- Dry skin: If your face feels dry as a desert, add a fragrance-free, cream-based moisturizer and a serum with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and vitamin E to fight dryness.
- Oily or acne-prone skin: Go for a water-based cleanser to wick away oil and build-up on your face. If your skin is acne-prone, opt for a cleanser with salicylic acid.
- Combination skin: If your skin can’t decide between dry and oily, try to apply gentle cleansers, serums, and creams that can moisturize dry areas without leading to excess oil production. Adding exfoliation as a regular step in your routine (after cleansing your face and before applying toner) can help balance your skin’s texture and allow products to absorb better.
A final note on the best skincare routine order
Ultimately, your skincare routine is just as unique as you are. Different skin types require different ingredients, creams, and serums, and everyone’s skin responds uniquely to skincare products. However, following the skincare routine order above can help you get the most out of every step in your routine, no matter your skin type.
The most important factor for skin health: consistency. Trust us — your fresh, clean skin will leave you feeling radiant!
More skin and beauty tips for you
From which acne cream to apply to the best sunscreen for oily skin, our Cerologists are here to answer all your skin health questions. Get personalized recommendations from our expert team — find a studio to get started.
